John Carradine (1906-1988)

Scott Essman and Eric Hoffman Collections

John Carradine in "House of Dracula." Before the horror: The tall, rangy actor with the distinct baritone - father of actors David and Keith Carradine - excelled at playing crazed, offbeat or villainous men. Iconic Universal roles: Carradine had tested for the title role of Dracula in Tod Browning's 1931 classic only to lose out to Bela Lugosi, who had played the famous vampire on Broadway. He ended up donning the count's black cloak in 1944's "House of Frankenstein" and 1945's "House of Dracula." Carradine also appeared in such other studio chillers as 1944's "The Invisible Man's Revenge" and "The Mummy's Ghost." Memorable quote: "I will explain everything, before sunrise." ("House of Dracula")

John Carradine in "House of Dracula." Before the horror: The tall, rangy actor with the distinct baritone - father of actors David and Keith Carradine - excelled at playing crazed, offbeat or villainous men. Iconic Universal roles: Carradine had tested for the title role of Dracula in Tod Browning's 1931 classic only to lose out to Bela Lugosi, who had played the famous vampire on Broadway. He ended up donning the count's black cloak in 1944's "House of Frankenstein" and 1945's "House of Dracula." Carradine also appeared in such other studio chillers as 1944's "The Invisible Man's Revenge" and "The Mummy's Ghost." Memorable quote: "I will explain everything, before sunrise." ("House of Dracula") (Scott Essman and Eric Hoffman Collections)

John Carradine in "House of Dracula." Before the horror: The tall, rangy actor with the distinct baritone - father of actors David and Keith Carradine - excelled at playing crazed, offbeat or villainous men. Iconic Universal roles: Carradine had tested for the title role of Dracula in Tod Browning's 1931 classic only to lose out to Bela Lugosi, who had played the famous vampire on Broadway. He ended up donning the count's black cloak in 1944's "House of Frankenstein" and 1945's "House of Dracula." Carradine also appeared in such other studio chillers as 1944's "The Invisible Man's Revenge" and "The Mummy's Ghost." Memorable quote: "I will explain everything, before sunrise." ("House of Dracula")